Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-10-22

| CmSiop0gdds hetd the STAR
In another second the sturdy Kara had also
slain man, and then began scene the like
| of which has not been known to me
| Up rushed the assailants-one. two, three
at time-and as fast as they came the ak
crashed and the sword swung, and down they
rolled again, dead or dying. And ever as
the fight thickened, the old Zulus eye seemed
TO get quicker and his arm stronger He
| shouted out his war cries and the names of
| chiefs whom he had slain, and the blows of
his awful ak rained straight and true, shear
| ing through everything they fell on There
was none of the scientific method he was so
| fond of about this last immortal fight of his
| he had no time for it, but struck with his full
strength, and at every stroke a man sank in
| his tracks and went rafting down the marble
| steps.
| They hacked and hewed at him with swords
and spears wounding him in dozen places
till he streamed red with blood. but the shield
| protected his head and the chain shirt his
vitals, and for minute after minute, aided by
the gallant Zu-Vendi, he still held the stair
At last Karas sword broke, and he grappled
with a foe, and they rolled down together,
and he was cut to pieces, dying like the brave
man that he was.
Umslopogaas was alone now, but he never
blenched or turned. Shouting out some wild
Zulu battle cry, he beat down foe, ay, and
another and another, till at last they drew
back from the slippery, blood stained steps
and stared at him in amazement thinking
that he was no mortal man.
The wall of marble block was four feet six
high NOW, and hope rose in my heart as
/ leaned there against it, a miserable helpless
log and ground my teeth, and watched that
glorious struggle. / could do no more, for
had lost my revolver in battle.
And old Umslopogaas he leaned, too, on
his good axe, and, faint as he was with
wounds, he Knocked them, he called them
"women"-the grand old warrior, standing
there, one against so manyl And for o
breathing space none would come against him,
notwithstanding Nasta's exhortations, till at
last old Agon, who, to do him justice, was a
brave man, mad with bafiied rage, and seeing
that the wall would soon be built and his
plans defeated, shook the great spear he held,
and rushed up the dripping steps.
"Ah ah!" shouted the Zulu, as he recog-
nized the priests flowing white beard, sit is
thou, old witch fnder Come on await
thee, white medicine man. come on! come
ont l have sworn to slay thee, and / ever
keep my faith"
On he came, taking him at his word, and
drove the big spear with such force at UNI
slopogaas that it sunk right through the
tough shield and pierced him in the neck
The Zulu cast down the transfxed shield and
that moment was Agon's last, for before he
could free his spear and strike again, with a
shout of "There's for thee rain makerin
Umslopogaas griped Inkosi-kaas with both
hands, and whirled her on high, and drove
IA 20 lie IL tlut
Agon rolled down dead among the corpses of
his fellow murderers, and there was an end
of him and his plots together. And even as
he fell great cry rose from the foot of the
stair, and looking out through the portion Of
the doorway that was yet Enclosed we saw
armed men rushing up to the rescue, and
called an answer to their shouts Then the
would be murderers who yet remained ON the
stairway, and among whom / saw several
priests, turned to fly, but having nowhere to
go, were butchered as they fed. Only one
man stayed, and he WAS the great lord Nasta,
Nylepthas sutton, and the father of the plot.
For moment the black bearded Nasta stood
with bowed face leaning on his long sword as
though in despair, and then, with dreadful
shout, he too rushed up at the Zulu, and,
swinging the glittering sword around his
head, dealt him such mighty blow beneath
his guard that the keen steel of the heavy
blade bit right through the chain armor and
deep into Umslopogaas' side, for "A moment
paralyzing him and causing him to drop
his ak
Raising the sword again, Nasta sprang for
ward to make an end of him, but little be
knew his foe. With a shake and yell of
fury, the Zulu gathered himself together and
sprang straight at Nastas throat, as | have
sometimes seen wounded lion spring. He
struck him full as his foot was on the top
most stair, and his long arms closing round
him like iron bands, down they rolled to-
gether struggling furiously. Nasta was
strong man and desperate, but he could not
match the strongest man in Zululand, sore
wounded though he was, whose strength was
as the strength of a bull. In a minute the
end came. / saw old Umslopogaas stagger to
feet--ay, and saw him, by single gigan-
&c effort, swing up the struggling Nasta.
ami. with a shout of triumph, hurl him
straight over the paranet Of rie bridge, to b.
might look ON the good beast once more be-
fore he was dragged away. And as looked,
to my astonishment, he opened his eyes, and,
lifting his head little, whinnied family. /
could have shouted for joy to find that he
was not dead, only unfortunately had not
shout left in me; but as it was grooms were
sent for and he was lifted up and wine
poured down his throat, and IN fortnight
he was as well and strong as ever, and is the
pride and joy of all the people Of Milosis,
who, whenever they see him, point him out
to the little children as the "horse which
saved the White Queens life"
Then went on and got off to bed, and was
washed and had my mail shirt removed.
They hurt me good deal in getting it Of.